The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. The nutria swamp rat, similar in size of the common beaver, with a very high reproduction rate, is capable of wide destruction to farm waterways. How did it get here? Originally native to subtropical and temperate South America, it has since been introduced to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, primarily by fur farmers. Tira says that the eradication program will involve educating people about the nutria. It can weigh up to 17 kg (37.5 pounds), although 5 to 10 kg is usual; the body measures up to 70 It has gotten so bad in California that Congressman Josh Harder of Modesto has introduced legislation in order to get funding in an attempt to eradicate the invasive pests. The nutria, for example, are ravaging California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region, jeopardizing the area’s soil and its water, which are vital to the state’s economy and food supply. Earlier this month, the state's fish and wildlife department issued a warning about the influx of nutria. Congress is advancing money to help the state exterminate the invasive swamp rodents. Before 2017, nutria hadn't been spotted in California in 50 years. The pesticide solution may have dire consequences. The invasive species can grow as large as 20 pounds and has large buckteeth. We still don’t know the origins of the coronavirus. Site and Date of Introduction: Nutria are generally thought to have been first released into the marshes surrounding New Orleans in the 1930s although the U.S. Geological Survey claims that an earlier population was brought to California in 1899. It is also smaller than a beaver. Nutria, the infamous ‘river rat’, were introduced to the U.S. west coast as an alternative to mink in the mid-1900’s. Nutria are approximately 2 feet long, and have a robust, highly-arched body. We didn’t need an outbreak of large voracious rodents, munching their way through the wetlands and tunneling into flood-control levees. However, it was eventually also introduced to the state of California for the benefit of the fur industry. In Spain, sanctuaries give forever homes to farmed animals, Elephants return to conflict-ridden national park. The nutria (Myocastor coypus) is a large, dark-colored, semiaquatic rodent. U.S. fracking is driving it. Nutria in Merced County. California's 20-pound invasive nutria problem could be worse than previously imagined For the small six-person team tasked with combating California's nutria infestation, a typical day consists of working in 100-degree weather, wading through marshes and avoiding traps built to catch 20-pound rodents, targeting about 2 million acres. How the pandemic created two wildly different ski seasons in the Alps, Video Story, Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright © 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. (CDFW file photo) Question: I’ve been following the effort to eradicate invasive nutria from California. There was one problem with this method of release, however: the nutria rodent is an invasive species in the United States of America. In the 1930s, they were sold throughout North America to fur farmers and as a means of controlling unwanted aquatic vegetation. Should cities start banning them? The animals thrive in marine environments and quickly spread through rivers into coastal wetlands. Nutria is a medium-sized, grayish-brown rodent with a long, round tail with few hairs. In 1965, the nutria was returned to the protected wildlife list. From 1962 to 1982, 1.3 million nutria were harvested annually for their fur from the coastal marshes. Nutria are found in lakes, wetlands, sloughs, drainage ditches, and irrigation canals along the Columbia River and north to Skagit County. Subsequent introductions were successful, as records indicate nutria were present in the Central Valley and South Coast of California in the 1940s and 50s, but were eradicated from the state by the 1970s. During the early 20th century, fur was an immensely popular material used for fashion. If nutria get established in California, there’s almost no hope of removing them. There did not seem to be any natural control and the state began losing its marshes. They live in burrows, or nests, never far from the water. Because fur prices were so high, trappers in the state could make a lot of money selling the fur. Can AstraZeneca dispel doubts about its shots? Despite the state’s economic diversity, agriculture continues to be an important part of California's economy. 1 of 62 Buy Photo A Nutria caught in a trap placed by biologists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, at the China Island state wildlife area near Gustine, Ca. Nutria ( Myocaster coypus) DESCRIPTION: At first glance, a casual observer may misidentify a nutria as either a beaver (Castor canadensis) or a muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), especially when it is swimming.This superficial resemblance ends upon a more detailed study of the animal. The House passed his bill to give $12 million to states like California specifically to help with nutria, but that money did not get included in the appropriations bill. All rights reserved. "Where you have this rich mosaic of plants and trees, it converts rather quickly to open water," Tira says. They have short legsand a robust, highly arched body that is approximately 24 inches (61 cm) long. They were introduced to Oregon in the 1930s. Nutria, (Myocastor coypus), a large amphibious South American rodent with webbed hind feet. Johnson & Johnson expands vaccine trials to adolescents age 12 to 17. "It's a very frightening situation in terms of impact.". Shooting with the sheriff. Upon performing a necropsy (the animal version of an autopsy), they discovered the animal was a female—and she was pregnant. How Did Nutria Rats Get to the U.S.? Their round tail is 13 to 16 inches (33 to 41 cm) long and scantily haired. There are several ways nutria damage sensitive environments. The nutria is much appreciated in South America for its fur and meagre meat. Nutria also pose a risk to agriculture production, and their burrowing can cause infrastructure damage. Unlike animals that take a year or longer to reach sexual maturity, nutria are ready to make babies at about four to six months. Nutria are invasive, semi-aquatic, South American rodents first released into Dorchester County, Maryland in 1943. Nutria, (Myocastor coypus), a large amphibious South American rodent with webbed hind feet. These mammals are native to South America and were introduced into the … Remnants from the space rock may help explain how often these cosmic explosions occur—and the threat they pose to Earth. Like many invasive species, the nutria has been accused of disturbing the local natural environment. Licenses were soon given for nutria farms. Louisiana pays $5 for every nutria tail hunters and trappers turn in. (CDFW file photo) Question: I’ve been following the effort to eradicate invasive nutria from California. The House passed his bill to give $12 million to states like California specifically to help with nutria, but that money did not get included in the appropriations bill. Nutria eat tall grasses and rushes. How the first pitch became baseball's Opening Day tradition, How Queen Victoria remade the British monarchy, 1800-year-old chain armor reconstructed using video game tech, After winning the vote, here’s why the suffragist movement took divergent paths, The extraordinary lives of America's 'bravest women', What we know so far about the effort to vaccinate children. These groups live in … Of the 1,680 nutria taken by members of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Nutria Eradication Program over the past two-and-a-half years, a … Golden State officials are actually asking for help to deal with this unwanted population.. Wildlife officials are asking California residents to report any sightings of nutria — an invasive rodent that eats so much aquatic vegetation that it threatens wetlands and marshes. During winter, nutria have been observed gathering in piles to keep warm. Sign up for more inspiring photos, stories, and special offers from National Geographic. Nutria are large, web-footed rodents that are more agile in the water than on land. At this time, many nutrias were released into the wild. Nutria rats originally came to the U.S. because of the fur industry. Nutria is a Spanish word for “otter.” They are also known as coypu. Please be respectful of copyright. Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. There was even a campaign to bring their fur back in fashion, including the tagline: "Look fabulous while helping to save the wetlands.". The nutria has a robust body, short limbs, small eyes and ears, long whiskers, and a cylindrical, scaly tail. As of May 2019, nutria have been confirmed in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno, Mariposa, and Tuolumne counties. Invasive nutria were believed to be eradicated from California in the 1970’s. They’re a threat to levees and canals. “I think I caught a nutria,” the man said. They were introduced to Oregon in the 1930s. Nutria are found from Central Texas eastward and on the Texas Coast in marshes, swamps, ponds and lakes. Waste left over from the coffee-making process can jolt destroyed forests back to life. ... California’s Invaders: Nutria (Myocastor coypus), California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Licenses were soon given for nutria farms. The interesting thing is there are records of releases in Florida as far back as 1955. Tira says California is currently trying to catch as many as possible and is asking people to call officials when they spot one. When sheared, nutria fur is a lighter alternative to beaver fur. Nutria were first brought to the U.S. between 1899 and 1930 for the purpose of establishing a fur farm industry. Late last month, Tira's agency was awarded a $1.13 million grant from the Proposition 1 water bond in the hopes of wiping nutria off California's map before they become impossible to … Very often, when the nutria (also known as the coypu) is mentioned, the state of Louisiana is the first region that comes to mind. This particular rodent was highly prized for its fur. Europe’s plastics industry is about to boom. Cold temperatures seem to reduce the distribution of nutria, as they don’t live in areas where water surfaces freeze for long periods. This causes breeches, and results in additional problems such as the erosion of banks. Why not let the state’s hunters and trappers help by offering a bounty on nutria? Nutria represent a triple threat to California's future as they destroy critical wetlands, jeopardize our water infrastructure, and threaten our multi-million dollar agricultural industry.". How did it get here? This was a belief that would be held until one fateful day in 2017. A California congressman is pushing forward with a bill to get funding to revive a program to eradicate them in the Delta. The nutria (Myocastor coypus), a large, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America, was originally brought to the United States in 1889 for its fur. When nutria are introduced into the environment, they can quickly raze the landscape, eliminating a host of important flora. Tira confirms they're spreading. We’re partially to blame. A locust plague hit East Africa. One of the worst is the way they consume flora. County Agricultural Commissioners (CAC) offices was initiated to eradicate nutria from California. Once free from fur farms, they began breeding—and breeding. The call came from a wildlife trapper working in the wetlands of central California. Marques Hayes is a freelance writer and World Atlas contributor. When the Nutria Fur trade collapsed in the United States in the early 1940s business owners simply let … Classified for a long time as the only member of the family Myocastoridae, Myocastor is now included within Echimyidae, the family of the spiny rats. In California, nutria are classified as a nongame mammal. Males and females may grow to 20 pounds (9.1 kg) and 18 pounds (8.2 kg), respectively… Farming nutria fur was marketed as a quick and easy way to make money. What if the world’s biggest customer went green? They've become a nuisance along the Gulf Coast, in the Chesapeake Bay, and in the northwest, but by far Louisiana has borne the brunt of the invasive species. In fact, beginning in the spring of 2017, nutria sightings were reported in California for the first time in four decades. Meet the nutria. Farming nutria fur was marketed as a quick and easy way to make money. For nutria, you want to get a #2 or #11 trap. 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